The Master of Arts in Counseling program will prepare counselors to be competent practitioners and agents for positive personal and social change through advocacy.

Learning outcomes include:

Theories

Students begin to demonstrate knowledge and skills in applying developmental and counseling theories relevant to counseling in general and specific to their specialization(s), and are aware of the limitations of these theories when working with diverse or multicultural populations.

Counseling Skills

Students will articulate the core conditions of a high-quality therapeutic relationship and the conceptual framework of the counseling skills model as taught in COUN 520 and 521. They will demonstrate counseling skills in field placement and internship.

Personal Growth and Wellness

Students will identify goals and steps, and implement action plans that promote their personal growth and wellness.

Professional Development

Students will identify goals and steps, and implement action plans that encourage professional development relevant to their counseling specialization(s).

Diversity

Students will demonstrate self-awareness around their biases, prejudices, limitations, and assets in working with diverse populations. Students will exhibit knowledge and skills in counseling clients from a wide range of diversity in all forms (e.g., gender, culture, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, physical/mental abilities, class, and social and economic background).

Social Justice and Client Advocacy

Students will actively promote sensitivity and awareness of social and ethical concerns, specific to consequences of economic and social injustice. Through coursework and field experiences, students will begin to engage in promoting social justice for clients/students, and work toward addressing systemic oppression.

Law and Ethics

Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills in applying laws and ethical principles relevant to their counseling specialization(s), and discuss limitations of ethical codes when working with diverse populations.

Research

Students will demonstrate their ability to access, evaluate, and apply culturally relevant research practices that emphasize a collaborative approach specific to their counseling specialization(s).

Case Management

Students will demonstrate goal-setting, assessment, and effective intervention with their clients relevant to their specialization(s), counseling setting and scope of practice—and learn to adapt interventions to meet the needs of their diverse clients.

Technology Literacy

Students will demonstrate a basic level of information technology literacy and skills, and use technology in culturally sensitive ways that reflect an understanding of the digital divide.

Written and Oral Communication Skills

Students will demonstrate professional and effective written and oral communication skills, including APA formatting.